title: Influence of the Mediterranean diet on carotid intima-media thickness in hypercholesterolaemic children: a 12-month intervention study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Mediterranean diet has been recognised as having a protective role on the cardiovascular system due to its low lipid and high antioxidant content. Lipid profile and oxidant status represent two important risk factors related to endothelial dysfunction, even at early stages of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of a 12-month Mediterranean diet on the variation of lipid profile and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in pre-pubertal hypercholesterolaemic children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We performed a cross-sectional study comparing lipid profile and cIMT in a group of 68 pre-pubertal children (36 with hypercholesterolaemia and 32 controls). In addition, in the hypercholesterolaemic children a 12-month intervention programme with a Mediterranean diet was started to evaluate the variation of lipid profile and cIMT. At baseline, hypercholesterolaemic children showed a significantly higher cIMT (both right and left carotid artery) compared to controls (both p < 0.05). After 12 months of diet intervention, a significant reduction of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and cIMT was documented (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, at the end of follow-up, delta body mass index-Standard Deviation score and delta LDL-cholesterol were significantly and independently related to the changes of cIMT (both p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Mediterranean diet represents a valid approach in the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia even during childhood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Via dei Vestini 5, 66100 Chieti, Italy; Clinical Research Center, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Via dei Vestini 5, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Diesse
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Via dei Vestini 5, 66100 Chieti, Italy; Clinical Research Center, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'Adamo
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Via dei Vestini 5, 66100 Chieti, Italy. Electronic address: valentinachiavaroli@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chiavaroli
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Via dei Vestini 5, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: de Giorgis
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Iorio
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Via dei Vestini 5, 66100 Chieti, Italy; Clinical Research Center, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Via dei Vestini 5, 66100 Chieti, Italy; Clinical Research Center, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohn
mesh_terms: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007328:Insulin
keywords: Hypercholesterolaemia; Intima–media thickness; Lipid profile; Mediterranean diet; Pre-pubertal children